hussey



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. A. HUSSEY.

SIGNALING AND SWITCH APPARATUS EOE TELEPHONES.

Patented SeptfWZQ, 1881-!! (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

C. A. HUSSEY.

STGNALING AND SWITCH APPARATUS EOE TELEPHONES. No. 247.35914 t ted 1881.

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M 0W Tw N. PETERS. Phem-Lnhwgrapner. wnsnmgmn. D. c.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

CHARLES A. HUSSEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE HUSSEY ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE. l

SIGNALING AND SWITCH APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONES.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,359, dated September 20, 1881. Application led April 9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HUSSEY,

ot' New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling and Switch Apparatus Particularly Applicable to Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

These improvements are especially designed for use in a central office with which a number of lines of telephone subscribers or customers communicate.

The improvements consist in the combination, with lines of telephone subscribers, of an electro-magnetic signal put in circuit with said lines at a central office when communication is established between said lines, and adapted to be operated by a reverse electric current, to indicate when communication is no longer desired.

The improvements also consist in the combination, with lines otl telephone subscribers, of signals whereby, when said lines are in communication, subscribers lnaycall one another and signals at a central oiiice which may be operated by a reverse electric current, to indicate when communication is no longer desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front View ot' one end of a. signaling and switch apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section ot' the apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a back view ofthe apparatus.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the igures.

I will now proceed to describe the apparatus in detail, premisin g that it comprises a system of signals for operation by the subscribers to indicate at the central office that they desire to be put in communication with some other subscriber, and a separate system of signals for operation by one of two subscribers putin communication, to indicate at the said office that the communication is no longer desired.

A designates a number of lines or wires, (here shown as eight in number,) extending from subscriberstelephone-instruments. They are severally connected to flexible metallic strips B, which, as here shown, are fastened at one edge in vertical positions to the back of a board, C. At the lower end these flexible strips are severally connected to one tin ger,

D, of a pair of metallic spring-fingers, D D', and when the apparatus is in its normal position metallic plugs l?, inserted in holes a in the front ofthe board C, tit between and electrically connect the spring-tingerl) D of each pair. A wire, E, leads from each ofthe springngers D of the several .pairs to metallic spring-ngers F, and in the normal condition of the apparatus it passes thence through metallic lingers G, then from the latter to the wire wound upon an electro-magnet, H, and thence to a ground-wire, I. l

Near each ofthe electro-magnets H (as here shown in front ot' the same) is a drop, J, consisting of a plate hinged to a. support at the lower end and held by a pin, a', slightly forward ot' a vertical position, so that it has a tendency to fall forward. A catch or hook, K, carried by the armature L of the electro-magnet H, and impelled downward bya spring, L', holds the drop in position when no electric current is passing through the circuit; but when an electric current generated bythemagneto-electric machine M of a subscriber passes through the circuit, the electro-magnet attracts its armature, and, raising the hook or catch, allows the drop to fall forward. Thus indication is given at the central office that the snbscriber whose drop is thus operated desires to be put into communication with another subscriber. The drop J, inasmuch as it makes a noisein falling forward against the front of the board C, is an audible as well as a visual signal. Each ot' these drops J-has marked upon it a number which indicates the subscriber to whom it belongs. Although these drops and their electro-magnets and armatures are shown as arranged in proximity to the board C, they may be arranged at some distance therefrom.

The subscribers magneto-electric machines M are provided with com mutators, so as to produce direct currents.

I do not confine myself to the use of any particular kind of magneto-electric machine, but prefer to use the kind shown, and which l will now describe. Each of these machines has a circular permanent magnet, 1, with an armature, 2, which is rotated within the sameby means of a cranked shaft, 3, connected to the armature-shaft by gear-wheels 4 and 5. On the rear end of the armature-shaft is a commu- ICO tator, 6, against which bear metallic brushes 7, one of which is connected with the ground and the other of which may be connected with the subscribers line A. The telephone-instruments at the subscribers office and the means for switching them and the magneto electric machines out of or into connection with their lines are not here shown, as they maybe of ordinary form and constitute no part of my invention.

8 designates an electro-magnet and 9 designates a polarized armature therefor, supported by a spring, 10, extending from a hardrubber block, 11, and capable of vibrating totion.

ward and from the electro-magnet.

12 designates a spring, against which the armature impinges when not otherwise actuated. The wire of the electro-magnet is connected with the spring 10, and hence currents of electricity will pass from it to the spring 10, thence through the armature to the spring 12, and off onto theline. Acurrent of electricity passing through the wire of the electro-magnet attracts the armature, and thereby breaks the electric circuit. The electro-magnet, then becoming demagnetized, releases the armature and allows it to vibrate away and complete the circuit in a well-known manner. The armature thus causes a clapper, 13, mounted on it, to ring a bell, 14, constituting a call-signal.

In the board-C, opposite the metallic springngers F, are holes b, in which may be inserted a plug, O, to which is connected a wire, Q, leading to telephone receiving and transmitting instruments R S at the central ofce. When one of the drops J falls this plug O is inserted in the holes b, opposite the metallic spring-finger F, which was in circuit with the electro-magnet H, that controls said drop, and thereupon the plug separates that metallic springnnger from the adjacent metallic finger G, cuts out or disconnects the said electro-magnet from the circuit., and the electric circuit then passes through the telephone instruments to the ground. The person in charge of the central office can then ascertain with whom the subscriber desires to be put into communica- The drop J is then raised to its normal position.

On the front ofthe board C are bars N, arranged in pairs, and, as here shown, in ahorizontal position. ln these bars, and in the opposite portions of the board C, are holes c, in which the metallic plugsl) maybe inserted, so as to impinge against and make electrical connection between a pair of the bars and the outer edges of two of the flexible strips B, to put two subscribers in communication with each other. When the metallic plugs P are removed from their holes a the connection between the spring-ngers l) D is broken and the electro-magnets H and drops J, which are connected electrically to the spring-fingers D', are cut out. The adjacent ends of each pair of bars N are connected by wires T with the wire of an electro-magnet, U; hence one of the electro-magnets U is put in circuit with two subscribers,who are putin communication with each other. Near, and as here shown in front of each of the electro magnets, is a drop, V, similar to the drops J, and controlled by a catch or hook,W, carried by a polarized armature, X, of said electro-magnet.

The subscriber who desires to be putin communication with another is always to be put in connection by a plug, P, with that one of a pair of bars, N, which will cause the current of electricity generated by his magneto-electric machine to run along the wire of the electromagnet U in the reverse direction to that in which it will traverse the wire of the electromagnets S. When the subscribers are put in communication the subscriber who caused the drop or signal J in the central office to fall for ward operates his ma gneto-electric machine again to call the subscriber with whom he is in communication. The Wires T are connected to the wire of the electromagnet U, so that electric currents will pass through the wire of said electro-magnet in a reverse direction to that in which the electric currents will pass through the wire of the electro-magnets 8 adjacent to the subscribers magneto-electric machines. Hence when the electro-magnets 8 attract their polarized armatures and operate their signalsthe electro-magnet U will not attract its polarized armature or cause its drop or signaLV to operate. Thereforethe electric current generated by one subscriber operating lhis magneto-electric machine after being put IOO in communication with another subscriber effects the. operation of the bell or signal 14 adjacent to the latters magneto-electric machine and attracts his attention, but fails to operate the drop or signal V at the central office. It also effects the operation of the bell or signal adjacent to the magneto-electric machine which is operated by the subscriber desiring to call the other subscriber with whom he has been put into communication, showing him that his magneto-electric machine is in circuit. When the two subscribers have iinished talking an electric current is sent over their circuit by one or other of their magneto-electric machines in a reverse direction to that previously sent over their circuit by the subscriber desiring to communicate with the other. This may be done by turning the machine which was previously operated in the reverse direction or by turning the other machine in a direction suitable for producing an electric current in a reverse direction to that previously generated. This reverse electric current will not cause the electro-magnets 8 adjacent to the magnetoelectric machines to attract their armatures and to actuate their signals, but will cause the electro-magnet U in the central office to attract its armature and actuate itsvsignal, thus indicating that the subscribers have nished their conversation. By this means not only are the subscribers allowed to converse in privacy and comfort without interruption from the central oicein the nature of inquiries through the telephone for the purpose of ascertaining wh ether they have-iinished, but they indicate at the central oce when they have finished and ob'- viate the necessity for so many employs there as are 110W required because this fact has to be ascertained through the telephone.

It will be observed that only one drop or signal, V, is provided for each pair of bars N. This is all that will be necessary with the apparatus shown and described, and these drops or signals need not be numbered, as they and the pairs of bars are not exclusively appropriated to any particular subscriber or subscribers, but any pair ot' bars which happen to be unused are employed in establishing communication between two subscribers desiring to converse.

It' desirable7 the apparatus may be modied, so that a single bar, N, instead of a pair of them, may be employed in connecting two subscribers. In this case there will be an electroniagnet, U, with the appurtenances thereof, and drop or signal V, in circuit between each ot' the subscribers lines A and iexible strips B. In other words, each of the lines A will communicate with an electromagnet, U, and each of these electro-magnets will communicate with a flexible strip, B. VTwo subscribers desiring to converse will then be put in communication by inserting two plugs, P, in the same bar N in positions to impinge against the tlexible strips B, which communicate with the lines A of such subscribers.

I do not confine myself to the use of the drops J and V, or either of them, as various other visual or audible signals may be employed in lieu thereof.

I do not claim any and all means whereby two subscribers put in communication at a central office may, when they no longer desire communication, indicate that fact at the central oftce through an annunciator or signal put into circuit with them.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with lines ot' telephonesubscribers, of an electro-magnetic signal put in circuit with said lines at a central oiiiee when communication is established between said lines, and adapted to be operated by a reverse electric current to indicate when com rnunication is no longer desired.

2. The combination, with lines of telephonesubscribers, of signals whereby,when said lines are in communication, subscribers may call one another, and signals at a central office which may be operated by a reverse electric current to indicate when communication is no longer desired.

C. A. HUSSEY.

Witnesses:

EDWIN H. BROWN, T. J. KEANE. 

